Newcomer advice needed on flash

Hello, I recently became a wedding/event photographer. I have a canon xti and my

first "real" wedding is coming up and I want to be completely prepared for it

but I don't know what I should get. I know I need a flash but I'm not sure what

flash is best, I'm not sure if I need another lens. Right now I have the lens

that came with the body and a macro lens. My budget is really tight so keep that

in mind. Any suggestions at all would be very helpful. To see what I've done in

the past, my website is http://www.captureCT.com

You will probably get a lot of info on this thread but I suggest taking some classes as soon as possible.

Until you have mastered your flash photography, you will be experimenting with someone's once in a lifetime memories.

The photos on your website have exposure problems. Your daylight shots in the sun have shadows on the faces. You need fill flash and you need to know where to shoot in order to get proper exposures for these types of pictures. Many of the black and whites will tell you there are too many hot spots on faces. Also some are too dark as well.

I would not give my customers pictures unless they were properly exposed and "finished". Your website should only have "finished" pictures.

 

To become a wedding photographer takes more than a basic camera and a couple of lenses. You can't expect to do weddings successfully without backup gear. One camera will be risking your entire future as a wedding photographer...also one flash.

 

If you want to be "completely prepared" as you indicate, you need to work alongside with a seasoned pro for many weddings until you feel like you can go solo with zero questions about getting the job done, including which gear is best.

 

I hope that was not too harsh but I would feel bad if you didn't have the absolute best experience shooting weddings.

 

Lou

Well I have 7 weddings booked for the rest of 2007 so I can't really take your advice now. The ones that I have done, I've gotten really good feed back and been asked for hundreds of dollars worth of reprints. All of my clients have seen my shots (my wesbite) and seen my prices and thats why they choose me. At this point my prices are lower than anywhere else they will find because they understand that although I've done photography for about 10 years I just started the business and I know I have a lot to learn. My website does show my finished pictures, I'm not sure what you mean by that.

I agree with Lou - you don't have an understanding of light. You put people in direct sunlight with blown out whites and shadows. Your compostions are leaving lots of space or not enough space. Most of your backgrounds are also very distracting. You need to assist and learn from a professional. Your rates are not way out of line for what you produce but certainly not a bargain. I think you can improve fast with some quality guidence.

Well I just moved to a new area, I don't know anyone in the photography business. I've only learned by doing. Are you saying there is something wrong with every photo?

There are a few nice pictures in your wedding section, but - as others have mentioned - there are many pictures that are not properly exposed. Underexposure and overexposure issues.

 

I would not feel comfortable presenting most of your pictures to my customers.

 

For someone who has been in photography as long as is stated on your website, you don't seem very knowledgeable on lighting and exposure issues.

You really should "shadow" with a Pro, you have alot to learn on lighting, posing etc. Also buy a few wedding books by well known photographers and study them carefully, avoid objects shooting out the back of heads, watch cutting off legs at the knees. And really study light and how to control it in your pics. These are fine as snapshots, but not so good for accepting money for. Best of luck in your studies.

Can anyone see how this is really confusing for me...the clients I have had loved my work and referred me to other people(I haven't had any negative feedback) and people on this page are telling me it's so bad I shouldn't show anyone my work. What the heck is going on? I realize that I am not as good as a lot of professionals, but I just started the business 8 months ago and eventually I hope to make it my career. Can someone give me some insight, this is my dream and up until today I thought I was doing pretty good.

Hi Mary (Mary Beth?)-

 

It sounds like you already have much of the equipment needed besides just the Canon xti mentioned above (Quote from the faq page on Mary's web site: 'Do you have a back up camera in case there are technical difficulties? Yes, CAPTURE is prepared for any and all crisis!').

 

If you list out all of your equipment -including the backup- for us, people can give you specific advice on what else would come in handy.

 

Regards, Lisa

Sounds like you're really lost.

 

It seems that your clients aren't anything like the clients seen by people in this forum. You're asking for advice from people here who seem to have a higher quality of clients.

 

If you want to keep the class of clients you have, ignore these comments. Otherwise, it might be a good idea to look into what everyone is saying.

 

When everyone has a different opinion than you, who's right?

 

I'm not qualified to give opinions here, but I have gotten a world of knowledge here. Take it, it's worth it.

To answer both questions:

My equipment includes the canon xti, a tripod, the lens that came with the body, a macro lens, and canon rebel (not digital) as a back up and the lens that came with that body

Secondly, my clients are usually young couples who don't have a lot of money but want nice pictures from their day and we work together because they know I don't have a ton of experience but from the average eye (not including the pros on this page) the photos come out really nice.

Here are some things you should read and study:

 

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

 

http://www.christophermaxwell.com/wedding-photography-tips.htm

 

http://www.christophermaxwell.com/wedding-photography-questions.htm

 

http://www.all-things-photography.com/wedding-photography-tips.html

I just briefly went on those sites.... WOW! I think I just cancelled any and all plans for this weekend. Time to sit down and really dive into this stuff. Looks like I have a lot of important information to educate myself on. I have a "practice" wedding shower in about a week that I am doing for free.

Mary - you said you don't have a flash, you only have 2 lenses, you've booked 7 weddings, but you are looking for advice on how to shoot them. You're actively booking paying clients while asking beginner questions on the Internet.

 

I think it's very frustrating for established pros to read on the forums over and over again (paraphrased): "Hi I just decided to become a wedding photographer and I don't really have any pro equipment and I don't understand lighting or composition, but a bunch of people tell me I take good pictures and so I think I'm going to be a pro." It doesn't happen to any other profession really.

 

I understand totally that not everyone has the opportunity to work with other photographers, but I think that anyone who is interested in becoming a professional should at the very least take the time to learn the basics of photography - and that includes lighting and flash - before calling themselves a pro and charging clients for their services.

 

I would suggest that you spend lots and lots of time on the sites suggested. I would also recommend http://www.planetneil.com for some great information about on-camera flash specifically for weddings.

 

Karen

To answer your questions directly, get the new 580EX II when it comes out, or if not, a used 580EX, 550EX, or new or used 430EX at the very least. The lenses are OK for the time being, but you'll probably want better, faster zooms as time goes on--such as the Canon 17-55mm f2.8, or a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8. And, a 50mm f1.8 is a great, fast and cheap lens to have for low light.

Karen, I was just going to mention planetneil.com--what an awesome tutorial on flash!

 

Mary, it is possible that your clients like your style of photography, but I think what others are trying to convey is that if you are charging your clients you should try to deliver the best possible quality photos. I myself am starting out in photography, but I had taken 3 years to study it: read books, posts, etc., and last year was fortunate enough to have met a photographer on this forum who allowed me to shoot with him and gain experience without having the responsibility to deliver. That was the best thing I had done--waited and learned. When I was shooting weddings with another photographer it was great-- I was able to learn without much pressure (I still wanted to shoot well, but at least his clients did not depend on me to deliver)--what a weight off my shoulders. I shot three weddings with him. It allowed me to gain more confidence, get used to the pace of weddings, and actually helped me to further develop my own style. So, to chime in with everyone, study what you can, see if you assist other photographers at a few weddings. You asked for an advice and suggestions and that is what you are getting from others here. They might seem a bit harsh to you, but remember that most people that contribute here shoot professionally, so they actually mean well when they critique your photos--they want you to learn :) Experience is worth the wait.

 

Good luck!

I I bought an Aston Martin (a sumpreme British car for those who don't know) my expectations would be sky high, as would the money I would be handing over. If I bought an old banger, my expectations would very much be lower, as would the money I would be handing over.

 

My point is that you all compete in a particular target market, and charge accordingly, and hopefully deliver appropriately. Mary Beth is targetting her market, and by her feedback is delivering appropriately. I am planning on doing the same, actually I am not going to charge at all for my first 5 weddings! Then I will start charging a modest amount. I have a well paying full time job as an engineer, so I am doing this for enjoyment and extra cash and then will see where it goes. That is my route to building a portfolio and slowly but surely raising prices.

 

I think Mary is doing fine! Mary, as long as you have a backup of everything to cover you rear end, keep on doing what you are doing! Your photography will improve and as it does, your target market and pricing will shift upwards.

THANK YOU SO MUCH DAVID! I really respect everything you said and glad I am not alone. I too have a full time job and I'm trying to do this on the weekends and in my spare time to build a portfolio and not depend on the money which might create even more pressure. I've done two weddings for free and a 3rd on is on it's way. I've been working since last August and my first real wedding is this June. Obviously I want to be as prepared as possible and give them the best product I can create. Realistically, people pay for what they get. Although my end product may not be the same as someone who charges $4000 for the day, it will be an end product that they could afford and that they can have for the rest of their lives. I feel good about what I do and already people have thanked me for offering such a good deal when they don't have much money to begin with and they want photographs of their day.

Mary,

 

As long as your clients like your work, you?re ok. Having been in your shoes I realized that I had to constantly keep learning and as I learned, my work improved, my clients changed, and so did what I charged.

 

Based on what I see of your work, I would say you are an advanced amateur with a lot to learn (watch for cut off limbs). However, that shouldn?t stop you from working.

 

My last 2 cents - learn fill flash, invest in a diffuser (Lightsphere, Stofen), and keep shooting!

Thanks so much mark. I've even had people who weren't my clients (friends and family) question how low my rates are. I probably could charge double or more and if I were doing that I could see how that would upset people. But I am doing what I think is right and seems to be working.

Cut off limbs-does this refer to taking pictures of people without showing their whole body? You are the second person to reference this.

In your opinion, what is the best way to begin to learn fill flash and how much does a diffuser typically cost and what is it's main function?

I have to say that I agree with David. There are a lot of young people with low budgets. They've drooled over the photos in Modern Bride magazine but don't have a dress like that and could never afford the flowers, the hair styling, the catering at a posh country club, etc. They know that. They don't expect that. They don't expect $5,000 quality wedding photography either. They want nice pictures to remember the day, pictures of smiling happy family members having a good time.

 

If you can make that bride happy with your photographs then go for it. But keep studying, practicing, and learning.

A lot of your questions can be answered by reading the material (past threads and posts) in the archives. Start with browsing the past threads organized into categories in the Wedding Forum. Especially the Newcomers section. Or do specific searches using this site's search engine.

 

Cutting off limbs doesn't refer just to not showing the whole body. There are traditional guidelines as to how to crop a non-full length shot of a person. For instance, it is "bad" to cut feet off at the ankles, or legs off at the knees--same for hands at the wrists and arms at the elbows. For example, the graceful way is to crop mid thigh for a 3/4, or at least, through the calf (not the ankle or knee).

 

Fill flash is a complex and confusing subject. You can look up previous threads on this site, as well as a tutorial we did last year on the subject. Plus, you should know how Canon handles fill flash by reading not only the planetneil article but photonotes.org/eosflash.

 

Diffusers are also a confusing topic, with many people having different opinions about it. Again, do searches, but I would suggest you start by experimenting with a white bounce card on your flash (when you get it). Again, planetneil has good info about this. Some diffusers cost a lot, so don't get sucked into the claim that one diffuser will do everything and magically transform your lighting. It won't. The best thing you can do to improve your lighting is to use your brain, study, and experiment.

Nadine...you mentioned tutorials, are there online tutorials?

"You're asking for advice from people here who seem to have a higher quality of clients."

 

I wonder what the criteria for a "high quality client" is? I always thought my money was just as green as the next guys.

 

Mary, you seem to have happy clients. Keep doing what your doing. In the mean time take some classes, read some books, and keep practicing.

 

Good luck!

Mary--some of us that frequent the Wedding Forum occasionally do what we call tutorials where a particular topic is explored, with people posting their "homework" online for critique. One of those was a fill flash tutorial, which I hosted. Here it is.

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00GFuJ